A resident of Wilcannia in far west New South Wales says having to personally stop four locals from self-harming or dying by suicide last year is "devastating" proof the community needs more effective services.

Lifeline provides limited support

Mr Adams's comments come as Scott Hammond, the Lifeline Broken Hill Country to Coast chief executive, said it was not financially able to deliver the necessary support services to remote communities, including Wilcannia.

Mr Hammond said the local Lifeline could only provide workshops and irregular counselling sessions to the town with its limited State Government funding and none from federal authorities.

He said it was frustrating that Lifeline, as the far-west's lead organisation for suicide prevention, was stretched for resources.

"[Residents] just feel after a loss there's no support for them, and we just don't have that capacity to be able to provide that support," Mr Hammond said.

"They need somebody that is going to work with them, case-manage the situation, get the correct services involved but also to work with the families."

"We see [government] funding that's being distributed for suicide prevention and at times we're not even aware of it, and then it's distributed to an organisation that hasn't had any consultation with communities."

Mr Hammond said the organisation had recently secured funding from a foundation to employ a youth social worker this year who would work with Wilcannia residents.